Lanza Atelier, a Mexico City-based studio founded by Isabel Abascal and Alessandro Arienzo, has designed the 2025 Serpentine Pavilion in London's Kensington Gardens. The pavilion features a 'crinkle-crankle' wall—a wavy, single-brick-thick structure historically used in rural Suffolk and introduced by Dutch engineers in the 17th century. The design reinterprets this form as a gathering space, with a flat glass roof, steel grid, and fixed louvres, alluding to the Serpentine pond and existing tree canopies.
The pavilion matters because it reframes the concept of a wall from a divisive structure—especially in the context of border politics—into an inviting, communal space that 'attracts instead of divides.' It also continues the Serpentine's tradition of showcasing emerging international architects who have not yet built in the UK, marking a shift from the early years of established male superstars to more diverse, younger talent. The project highlights how historical building techniques can be adapted for contemporary, socially engaged architecture.